Sustainable living in an Icelandic farmReykjavik, Iceland 8 projects of 2 wks from October to December

Volunteer project: In the sustainable living project, we are renovating an old farmhouse in the outskirts of Reykjavik, 15 km away from the city centre. The volunteers will help with the renovation in the house and on the property, and will take care of the work on the farm. We have chickens, a cat, a greenhouse for growing herbs and vegetables, and a piece of land where we grow potatoes, carrots and lettuce. The volunteers will help with all tasks related to the farm. The work varies depending on the season.

We will also have special topics to discuss in the project, such as food wasting, recycling and renewable energy. The volunteers will also create documentaries, posters and brochures related to sustainable living, which will be introduced to children in Reykjavik.

Language: English

Leisure time: On weekends, the volunteers can enjoy Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions can be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in a house in Sveinsstadir which is located in the outskirts of Reykjavik. This place is like a farm in the city, so you can enjoy pure nature and the city life of the capital at the same time. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag, but beds/mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.
Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Arrive at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 220 Euro
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

All available dates for this project:October 7 - October 17, 2017
October 17 - October 27, 2017
October 27 - November 6, 2017
November 6 - November 16, 2017
November 16 - November 26, 2017
November 26 - December 6, 2017
December 6 - December 16, 2017
December 16 - December 23, 2017

Help a village with farming and educationShan & Ayeyarwady, Myanmar 3 projects of 2 wks from October to December

Volunteer project: Before the beginning of the international volunteer projects in these villages, the local people had very little or no contact at all with foreigners. The local young people need to improve their knowledge on globalization, English proficiency and cultural exchange. There’s also a need of educating the communities about agriculture and environmental awareness.

The volunteers will take part in the life of a village by helping the community in their field work. There will be various farming tasks such as planting, paddy harvesting, picking fruit and coffee, digging, etc. The volunteers will also teach children from grade 5 to 7, and share knowledge with the local community.

Language: English

Accommodation: Homestay in a house in the village.

Location: The area is peaceful and calm, with mountains and farms around. There are ancient caves, waterfalls and ancient pagodas nearby.

Terminal: Yangon

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 USD
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

Building community vegetable gardens in MabopaneMabopane, Gauteng, South Africa November 7 - November 20, 2017

Volunteer project: The aim of this international volunteer project is to contribute to the improvement of the well-being of the community of Mabopane through increasing the access of its residents to food by establishing productive vegetable gardens.

The activities include digging up and making food gardens for the local community. We will clear up marked arable land and plant food plants such as tomatoes, onions, carrots, etc. The gardens will benefit disadvantaged members of the community such as orphans and old peoples’ homes.
The work will be conducted in groups and proper training will be given from qualified people.

Volunteer profile: No previous experience needed. Volunteers are expected to be open minded, ready to interact with other people of different cultural backgrounds; positive and willing to share their experiences; flexible to live/stay in simple living conditions and eat local food; ready to do manual work on the project.

Leisure time: Weekends are meant for free tours that the group can organize by themselves. There will be also cultural nights when each volunteer can present their country and culture.

Language: English

Accommodation: Accommodation will be in dorms at the project center. Participants are required to bring their own sleeping bags.

Location: Mabopane. The community is multi-cultural and English is mostly spoken along with local languages such as Sotho, Zulu and Tshwana to name a few.

Terminal: Pretoria

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

Sustainable living in Magole eco villageMagole, Tanzania November 23 - December 9, 2017

Volunteer project: In Tanzania, as in other countries around the world, sustainable living is a hot topic. Lack of knowledge and exposure has significantly increased lifestyles that cause more environmental damage for future generations to deal with. Sustainable living applies to almost every part of daily life hence there is an importance to be addressed. In responding to the issue of sustainable living, the eco village host of this project was initiated. The Eco Village initiative is a community designed to address challenges to attain sustainable development. Village members are united by shared ecological, socio-economic and cultural values. The village is characterized by efficient energy use, enhanced recreational opportunities, encouraging biogas and local food production, sustainable reliance on local resources and investing in environmental conservation. The overall goal is to build an ecologically balanced society.

Study part: Educational tours and workshops related to the project theme and other development issues will be organized to provide an opportunity for participants to learn more about social, cultural and economic realities of the area. The major topic will be Sustainable Living.

Special requirements: No special or particular expertise/skills required. However a potential participant for this project should be interested in outdoor activities, nature and agriculture.

Leisure activities: The project is organized in a way that provides opportunity for the volunteers to utilize their free time by enjoying what the region offers in terms of cultural and natural attractions. During the first weekend participants will have an opportunity to explore Dar es Salaam’s historical, natural and cultural sites. These include museums, local markets and beach. During the second weekend we will have an opportunity to enjoy a wildlife safari (Mikumi National Park) and a cultural tour at the Maasai village.

Language: English

Accommodation: Volunteers will be accommodated with host families at the eco village. Some participants might be accommodated in the common house or in tents at the same place.

Orientation: On arrival, all volunteers will attend an orientation session in Dar es Salaam. The aim of this session is to help the volunteers build a team and also to share with them some practical information about the country, the host community and their volunteer project.

Location: The project will be hosted in the eco village in Magole community. It is located in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, about 40 km south of the city centre. It has a beautiful landscape and natural attractions where some wild animals (monkeys, rabbits and birds) can be seen.

Terminal: Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euros
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

Community development program in WakisoWakiso, Uganda 1 - 12 months

Volunteer project: This is a community based initiative in Mau village, Nabweru Sub-county Wakiso district. The aim is to improve the water, sanitation and hygiene in Maganjo parish by creating, developing awareness materials and other relevant initiatives which will help in mobilizing communities to get involved. Local people are also running a primary/nursery school for children and income generating activities like handcrafts, coffee making, juice packing, knitting and tailoring to improve on their livelihood.

Volunteers' tasks: Promotion of community work and preparing and support for outreach programs, training in apprenticeship and organic farming.

Study theme: Improving livelihood through community involvement and strengthening income generation for sustainable development.

Language: English

Duration of the project: 1 to 12 months. The program is running throughout the year.

Accommodation: Accommodation will be in a host family or a group accommodation on site.

Extra fee: 300 Euro for 1 month; 450 Euro for 1-3 months; 750 Euro for 3-6 months; 900 Euro for 6-9 months; 1200 Euro for 9-12 months;
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

Volunteer project: The challenge of food security, especially in the face of rising food prices, places a serious responsibility before the country. Despite immense advances in the agriculture sector, many people still sleep hungry or live under the threat of food shortage. The degradation of natural resources is also a major concern as it severely impacts the livelihoods of poor and backward communities in rural areas. In this backdrop, sustainable agriculture is one of the most effective ways to respond to the challenges of the rural community. In essence, Sustainable Agriculture refers to a set of practices adopted for cultivation that are least harmful to the environment while also ensuring a good crop. It involves crop production methods that support sustainable natural resource management to increase crop productivity, maintain biodiversity, and also are economically viable and socially acceptable. Organic farming is generally sustainable; however, organic produce can also be cultivated on large scale industrial farms that are not sustainable. Soil and water management, organic farming, integrated pest management, and integrated nutrient management are common practices promoted under sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agricultural development, as well as employing organic farming methods, seeks food and nutritional security, improved livelihoods for the people, safe ecosystems, and sustainable economies of agriculture.

As a volunteer in this field of work you will
- Work with the farming community and the associated organisations that assist in sustainable agriculture and/or organic farming.
- Conduct community awareness on the importance of sustainable agriculture.
- Facilitate training and capacity building on crop productivity, how to maintain biodiversity, water management, organic farming, integrated pest management, and integrated nutrient management, surveys, documentations etc.

Language: English

Duration of the project: The project is run all year round. Minimum duration is 1 month. The project starts on the first Monday of every month.

Documents to be submitted: Motivation letter that accurately describes yourself, your skills and interests, past work experience, strengths and weaknesses, etc. is required. This information assists us to match you to the project as accurately as possible.

Accommodation: During the orientation week, the volunteers will stay together in a volunteer centre in Kundapur or Bangalore in shared bedrooms, and will take all three vegetarian meals together.
Accommodation for the volunteers during the project can either be at the project site, in a local host family or in a hostel – depending on the project, location and availability.

Arrival and orientation: Volunteers arrive in Kundapur or Bangalore by the first Monday of each month. Bangalore has an international airport and Kundapur is well connected to Bangalore by train and bus.

The program will start with a week-long orientation. The schedule is flexible but the Orientation week usually contains the following topics:
- Program introduction: topics include aims of the program, way of working, finances, rules and expected behaviour.
- India: culture, religion, habits, customs, history, geography, social issues, etc.
- Language skills: India has 18 official languages, and many more dialects and sub-dialects. We will start with teaching the local language, Kannada. Do not forget that English is widely spoken throughout the country. However, we encourage you to try to learn and speak the local language, since this will open more doors for you.
- Projects: overview of the international volunteer projects in India and an explanation and presentation of your particular placement. There will also be project visits, where you will have the opportunity to meet current volunteers in the project who can share their experiences.
- Information: lots of new things will be introduced to you including some sessions on yoga, cooking and Hindu philosophy.
- Local sightseeing: meeting people will make you feel right at home. You will have the opportunity to visit market places, Indian homes and natural sites in groups or individually during the free time.
- Do’s and Don’ts: there are some simple rules, which can help you have a smooth integration with each other and with the local people. This will also help overcome the culture shock!
- Intercultural session: presentation of the represented countries and cultures to the other volunteers and the local youth.
- Group games and discussions to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic and participatory as possible.

Age range: 18 and over

Participation fee: $690 CAD (about $560 US)

Extra fee: 14,500 Indian Rupees per month (about $220 US)
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

Volunteer project: The aim of this project is to provide an opportunity for volunteers to experience organic farming in Vietnam.
This organic farm is inside a Buddhist pagoda in the outskirt of Ho Chi Minh City. The monks who live in the pagoda take care of about 10 orphan children and 20 homeless elderly people. The project aims at making use of uncultivated land in the pagoda to grow vegetables which are an important source of food for the monks, children, and seniors living here. Usually, almost all of their food is donated, and they only buy tofu for the meals. Having an organic vegetable garden, they can provide themselves with healthier and more diverse foods. More importantly, this garden lessens their food expenses.

The farm in the pagoda is new, yet full of potential. Two kinds of farming can be carried out here: organic vegetable farming and herb farming.

Language: English

Duration of the project: 2 - 3 weeks. Please select the dates that work best for you and submit them with your application.

Arrival and orientation: The project starts on Tuesday, except on holidays. Volunteers arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday or Tuesday of every week.
A one- to three-day orientation and training is provided at the beginning of the project. It covers topics such as aims and structure of the program, introduction to Vietnam and tourist destinations recommendation, practical information and arrangements, basic Vietnamese and local travel guide and visits to host placement(s).

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a dormitory in shared rooms. The house has TV, PC, free Wi-Fi, fridge, washing machine, air conditioner, cooking facilities and common room.
There is a cook who prepares a wide variety of delicious and authentic Vietnamese dishes with locally sourced fresh produce daily during the week. On weekends, meals will be served at a restaurant nearby.

Location: Ho Chi Minh City

Terminal: Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 280 Euro for the first 2 weeks plus 80 Euro per extra week
The extra fee for this project has to be transferred one month before the start. The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds.

Organic farming programHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2 - 3 weeks

Volunteer project: This organic farming program takes place in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. The farm works to promote eco lifestyle, as well as to provide real organic fruits and vegetables to the community. The farm is about 5000m2 and they use technology based on software to ensure the quality and capacity of the products.
There are 6 No’s on this farm: No pesticides and herbicides; No planting on soil and water contaminated with agricultural chemicals; No growth regulators; No chemical fertilizers; No genetically modified seeds; No preservatives.

Volunteers will help with the routine tasks on the farm:
- Checking plants regularly to find ecosystem patterns of the land
- Field sanitation and plants health
- Planning the seasonal crops
- Using different plants for intercropping and crop rotation as needed
- Creating favourable environment for the development of beneficial insects
- Trap cropping and setting pheromone traps
- Measures for expelling insects
- Shielding vegetables in rows or in a greenhouse
- Using resistant varieties
- Applying insecticides of biological origin

The organic farm also plays an educational role. Children can come to visit and learn about organic farming, eco-lifestyle and environmental issues.

Language: English

Duration of the project: 2 - 3 weeks. Please select the dates that work best for you and submit them with your application.

Arrival and orientation: The project starts on Tuesday, except on holidays. Volunteers arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday or Tuesday of every week.
A one- to three-day orientation and training is provided at the beginning of the project. It covers topics such as aims and structure of the program, introduction to Vietnam and tourist destinations recommendation, practical information and arrangements, basic Vietnamese and local travel guide and visits to host placement(s).

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a dormitory in shared rooms. The house has TV, PC, free Wi-Fi, fridge, washing machine, air conditioner, cooking facilities and common room.
There is a cook who prepares a wide variety of delicious and authentic Vietnamese dishes with locally sourced fresh produce daily during the week. On weekends, meals will be served at a restaurant nearby.

Location: Ho Chi Minh City

Terminal: Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 280 Euro for the first 2 weeks plus 80 Euro per extra week
The extra fee for this project has to be transferred one month before the start. The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds.